Much anticipation as Féile na nGael launched

The Woodlands Hotel in Adare was the venue last Thursday night for the launch of Féile na nGael 2013, the national festival of camogie, hurling and handball that is being hosted by Limerick GAA.
Two-hundred host clubs were represented in all codes, with each club presented to the assembled guests and speakers by MC on the night, Donal Fitzgibbon.
The three presidents, Aileen Lawlor (camogie), Liam O’Neill (GAA) and Willie Roche (handball) spoke of the programme of the traditional school visits, games, skills finals and so on and thanked the inter-county hurlers and camogie players who travelled to the schools. 
The event will take place over the weekend of July 5-7. Oliver Mann, county GAA board chairman, James Moynihan county camogie chairman and Munster GAA Council chairman Robert Frost all reiterated the words of the presidents.
The late Seamus O’Riain was instrumental in establishing Féile na nGael in 1971 as a festival of Gaelic games.
In its 43rd year, the festival is going from strength to strength, with over one million players taking part since its inception.  Music and dancing by Limerick’s Ceolteóirí Uishle and Na Rinceoiri entertained the crowd following the launch.
Truagh/Clonlara will be the Clare camogie representatives at Féile 2013 and, as in 2010 when Limerick provided assistance to Clare by hosting visiting clubs, this time round it is the Clare clubs who are providing assistance.
Seven Clare clubs, Clarecastle, Clooney-Quin, Cratloe, Éire Óg, Kilkishen, Parteen and Sixmilebridge, will all host visiting teams for their neighbours.

Éire Óg hoping to repeat 2010 success
Éire Óg are hoping to follow in the footsteps of their 2010 Féile team that won the Division 2 final.
The girls are putting in a huge effort at training, with full attendance at all sessions. They have done reasonably well in the U-14C championship, winning three out of their five matches and they will be playing Wolfe Tones in the semi-final later this week.
Éire Óg will host Camógaíocht na Gleannta Leitrim in Group B of Division 5, a group which will also feature Clare side Cratloe and St Bride’s, Knockbridge, Louth. The group games on the Saturday will be played in Cratloe.
“We were delighted to be invited to host Féile,” said club secretary Mary McMahon.
“There is a great buzz around the club already and we are all looking forward to it. Féile is a unique experience and creates a great bond amongst the players. While it is primarily a sporting occasion, there is a fantastic social aspect to it also.
“It is a great opportunity for parents to get to know each other and to forge new friendships with our guests. There is a lot of organising involved but it will be worth it in the end. Let us just hope that the weather obliges like it did in 2010.”
The club recently held a well-attended table quiz as a Féile fundraiser while the U-14 players ran a coffee and cake sale at the Clare U-14 development blitz held in the Éire Óg grounds.

Kilkishen in
Division 1
Kilkishen are one of two Clare teams who will feature in Division 1 of Féile.
Traditionally, the highest grade Clare has played at has been Division 2. However, with the success achieved by county clubs in recent years in reaching the finals – Éire Óg in 2010, Sixmilebridge in 2011 and Inagh Kilnamona in 2012 – means that it falls to Kilkishen and ­Truagh-Clonlara to carry the mantle.
Kilkishen will host Kilkenny champions Dicksboro and, similar to Éire Óg, will also meet a Clare side in Group C of Division 1.
Their away games on Saturday will be played at Crecora, who are ­hosting ­Truagh/Clonlara. Cushla Hehir of the Kilkishen management team says competing in Féile is a challenge for the club, as the girls will be up against many of the top teams in the country.
However, she feels this will benefit the girls in the future, as it will give them a much greater sense of what is required of players who compete at the highest level, something that Cushla is very familiar with, having made her senior debut in a Clare jersey back in March, playing in the National League against All-Ireland ­champions, Wexford. Cushla also agrees with the concept that Féile should be about the players’ ­participation, adding that she hopes her young charges enjoy the event, have fun and make friendships that will last as long as the memories.